By this time Jehu had almost arrived at the city and the palace. Joram had time to go out only as far as the field Ahab had taken from Naboth. The title deeds for that field had been signed in blood. First it was the blood of Naboth that signed over that field to the house of Ahab, and now it was the blood of the house of Ahab that was to affix its signature (see on Ex. 20:5). This judgment upon Joram was in accord with the strict demands of justice. What could have been more fitting than that the house of Ahab should pay the price for the death of Naboth in that field of blood?

Rather, “to meet Jehu.” The Hebrew word here translated “against” is from the root “to call,” “to meet,” and should be translated “against” only when the context demands it. The kings were probably unsuspectingly going as friends, expecting to meet a friend.

Two kings went out to meet another—two went to their doom and one to his throne. The two kings went out unsuspecting and unarmed. In the city they would have had matters in their favor. They would have been protected by walls and probably had with them troops sufficient to take care of the crisis. After the long and furious journey from Ramoth-gilead, the horses of Jehu and his company were spent, and would hardly have been a match for the cavalry from Jezreel.

Joram was making preparations for his own death. A wiser person might have read more correctly the meaning of the signs that had been so clearly given and made ready the defense of the city, rather than ordering for himself a chariot to go out to meet the approaching enemy. It is evident that Joram was not as ill as his hasty departure seemed to indicate, or he would not have been in a position to go out to meet Jehu. It is also highly probable that he suspected no ill toward himself. He was anxious and concerned, but it may have been only regarding the state of affairs in Gilead.